Historic place
Fukui Prefecture has many tourist spots with historic buildings and sites such as shrines, temples, castle ruins, Japanese garden, and so on. Why don't you visit these places representing the very essence of the beauty and tradition of Japan?

Maruoka Castle

Echizen Ohno Castle

Obama Castle Ruins

Fukui Castle Ruins

Maruoka Castle

Maruoka Castle, which is designated by the government as one of the important cultural properties, was built by Katsutoyo Shibata, a nephew of Katsuie Shibata, in1576. The outlook-tower-type donjon has two-tiered and three-storied structure with a function of the domain lord’s residence. It is known as the oldest donjon in existence in Japan. Maruoka Castle is surrounded by 400 Yoshino cherry trees and chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossoms Viewing Sites. It is also known as Kasumigajo, a castle in the mist. In spring, these cherry blossoms add graceful beauty to this old castle as its elegant alias represents.

Address:

Kasumi-cho, Maruoka-cho, Sakai City

Opening hours:

8:30 am to 5 pm (entry by 4:30 pm)

Closed day:

Open 7 days a week

Location:

Take a Keifuku bus bound for Honmaruoka or Eiheiji at JR Awaraonsen Station. Get off at “Shiro iriguchi”. Walk 2 minutes. / Take a Keifuku bus bound for Honmaruoka. After 40-minute bus ride, get off at “Maruokajo”. / 5-minute drive from Hokuriku Expressway Maruoka IC

Echizen Ohno Castle

Echizen Ohno Castle was built by Nagachika Kanamori, a military commander who served Nobunaga Oda. It took 4 years for this castle to be fully completed in 1590. The initial castle building had a two-tiered and three-storied large donjon, a two-tiered and two-storied small donjon, outer citadel called “ninomaru”, and outermost region of the castle called “san-nomaru”. The castle was protected by these inner and outer moats. The stone wall, which is designated by Fukui Prefecture as one of the cultural properties, was made employing the construction method called “nozura zumi”, stacking natural stones as they are. The present castle was reconstructed in 1968 and personal belongings left by successive castellans are exhibited in it.

Obama Castle Ruins

Obama Castle was built by taking advantage of geographical features. It is called a Mizu-shiro, a castle built on lakes or marshes or close to rivers for defensive reasons. It is a typical Mizu-shiro that is rarely found even across the country. This castle was initially built by Takatsugu Kyougoku, the husband of Ohatsu, who became a feudal lord of Wakasa Province. Tadakatsu Sakai became the castellan in 1634 and the castle was completed in 1641. Since then, it was owned by the Sakais, a local feudal lord, for 14 generations for 238 years until 1871. However, what we can see today is only a part of the stone wall of the castle. Obama Shrine, which worships Tadakatsu Sakai, the founder of Obama Castle, stands where the main castle building used to be.

Fukui Castle Ruins

Fukui Castle was built in 1606 by Hideyasu Yuki, the second son of Ieyasu Tokugawa and the first domain lord of Fukui. Since then, the Matsudairas have successively resided in this famous castle for 17 generations for about 270 years. When this castle was initially built, it is said to have had a 37-meter-high four-tiered and five-storied magnificent donjon and triple moats. However, it was destroyed by a great fire and only the stone wall and a part of the moat remain now. A ruin of a well called “Fukunoi”, which is said to be the origin of the name Fukui, lies under the base of the donjon.